Wigan defeat NZ Warriors in World Club Challenge warm-up

Correspondent

Wigan warmed-up for the World Club Challenge with a 46-22 win over New Zealand Warriors in Hamilton.

Young winger Joe Burgess scored four tries as the Super League champions overturned a 22-16 half-time deficit to record victory, ahead of their meeting with Sydney Roosters on Saturday week.

Wigan ran in nine tries in total, with Jack Hughes, Darrell Goulding, Gil Dudson, Sam Powell and Dom Manfredi also on the scoresheet.

Hooker Michael McIlorum featured from the start, although there was no place in the side for Sean O’Loughlin, still nursing the slight hamstring complaint that kept him out of Friday’s opening league game against Huddersfield.

New Zealand Warriors fielded a relatively inexperienced team, that didn’t include World Cup stars such as Shaun Johnson, Simon Mannering and Manu Vatuvei, or their new record signing from Wigan, Sam Tomkins.

New Zealand Warriors 22 (16)

Team: Ropati, Solomoma, Tuimavave-Gerard, Passi, Wilson, Townsend, Waetford, Lillyman, Friend, Rapira, Matulino, Mateo, Palavi. Replacements: Lisone, Vete, Baldwinson, Peteru, Latu, Tua, Tamaseu-Russell, Tonks, Bhana, Sipley, Havili, Latu, Carl, Sio, Lino

Tries: Chad Townsend, Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard, Nathaniel Peteru

Goals: Chad Townsend 3

Wigan Warriors 46 (16) 

Team: Bowen, Charnley, Goulding, Sarginson, Burgess, Powell, Smith, Taylor, McIlorum, Dudson, Hughes, Farrell, Clubb. Replacements: Gelling, Flower, Pettybourne, Tomkins, Hampshire, Williams, Manfredi

Tries: Joe Burgess 4, Jack Hughes, Darrell Goulding, Gil Dudson, Sam Powell, Dom Manfredi

Goals: Matty Smith 2, Sam Powell 3